The three Harris men tried to block the sun from their eyes as they squinted up at the towering white vessel that had just been named the Lucy Grey. Jake nodded in approval, "not too shabby." He said, "I could get used to staying on a boat like that." Phil laughed and clapped his son on the back, "I can promise ya right now kid that the crew quarters aren't going to be nearly as nice as the guest state rooms."
Jake's smile didn't falter in the slightest, "well!" He exclaimed, "I guess I'll just have to cozy up with some first class dame."
Joshua rolled his eyes and chuckled, "I find it hard to believe that any first class jane is going to want to have anything to do with the likes of you."
"What makes you say that?"
"You're just a fishermen! They like big shots with deep pockets not men that permanently smell like the ocean and don't have a dollar to their name."
"Yeah? Well we'll see about that."
"Be quiet, the both of you!" Phil said loudly interrupting his sons, "cmon let's go check out the inside of this beauty."

Sparrow jumped as Grey entered the bedroom they shared and slammed the door behind her. "You scared me have to death!" Sparrow exclaimed.
"Why?" Grey retorted, "were you in here doing something you shouldn't be?" Sparrow's right arm was behind her back and already her younger sister was eyeing her suspiciously. "Lighten up Grey I was just smoking a ciggy."
Sparrow placed her long ivory colored cigarette holder between her lips and inhaled deeply. She exhaled a ring of smoke and smiled at the look of disapproval on her Grey's face. "Daddy would be upset if he knew you were in here smoking." Grey said in a deadly whisper.
"And who's going to tell him? You?"
Grey folded her arms across her chest and frowned, "No... But you still shouldn't be doing it. Tristan wouldn't be very happy either if he knew you were smoking."
Sparrow had to resist the urge to roll her eyes at the mention of her fiancé's name. Tristan Doherty was the heir to one of the biggest fortunes in Ireland and Sparrow was due to marry him in little over six months. He was handsome, very handsome; Auburn hair, blue eyes, beautiful freckled skin, and a smile that had the power to make women blush. He also had the brains to match; Tristan was articulate, well read, and incredibly clever. The only problem was that he and Sparrow had little to nothing in common. In fact most of the time she was with him she was bored to tears. It wasn't that she didn't love him, over the last year Sparrow had begun to care for him deeply but she was desperate for a little adventure. If she wasn't planning her wedding she was preparing for her debut in the Russian Ballet and if she wasn't doing that she was busy entertaining her father's constant house guests. Harold Moore owned several of the largest auto factories in Ireland and the United States. Their manor was constantly filled with the richest people from all over Europe and the U.S for social gatherings. Since Sparrow was a beautiful ballerina renowned in Ireland and the U.S and soon to be part of the Russian Ballet she was constantly center stage. At least that was how she felt. Sparrow couldn't remember the last time she had a quiet restful moment to herself. Sparrow tossed her cigarette off of their balcony and into the fountain below. "If you need me I'll be in the parlor." Sparrow said as she patted her curls to make sure they were in place, "I promised Tristan I would try and decide on desserts for the reception." She sighed and then left the room, her heels clicking against the wood floor as she went.

Grey sighed and plopped down in front of the vanity once she was sure her sister was gone. She ran her hands over the dozens of pendants, jewels, and beautifully scented perfumes that had all been given to Sparrow from her many admirers. 'If only I could dance like her.' Grey thought sadly. Then maybe people would spare her a second thought. Grey was used to the constant attention Sparrow received but that didn't mean she liked it. She held a jealously for her older sister that she just couldn't seem to make disappear. Sparrow was the family talent and the family beauty while Grey was just, well Grey. They shared the same tall thin frame, identical green eyes, and red hair that burned like fire; but still Sparrow had the ability to make all eyes land on her when she entered a room while Grey faded into the crowd. Grey loved her older sister to death but the two girls couldn't have been more different. While Sparrow danced Grey wrote (in secret of course), while Sparrow laughed Grey scowled, When Sparrow cursed her impending wedding day Grey prayed that she would soon have her own, while Sparrow craved adventure Grey craved serenity. Grey gazed at herself in the mirror until she grew bored with her unchanging reflection. She was beginning to feel suffocated under the weight of her sister's shadow. What she needed most was an escape. 'Maybe this trip won't be so bad after all.' She thought to herself.

Crosby slowly guided his mother out onto the front porch and helped her sit down on the wooden bench he had built himself so she could watch the sunset. He sat down beside her and squeezed her hand. When he wasn't crabbing his favorite thing to do was sit on that rickety old bench with his mother. He told her stories of his adventures on the Bering Sea and she told him tales of her youth; together they laughed for hours into the night. Crosby cherished these moments with his mother, even though he hated to think about it he knew she wouldn't be around for much longer. While his buddies were out drinking and being drugstore cowboys Crosby sat on that porch and did his best to show his mother just how much he loved her. Crosby loved to hang out with his boys and pick up dames as much as the next guy, but after the death of his father his priorities had taken a major shift. Now he knew what was important in his life and he refused to make the same mistake with his mother that he had made with his father. When he wasn't crabbing he would stay out late drinking bootleg liquor with his buddies and would disappear with random janes for days at a time. It was during one of his disappearances that his father had died suddenly from a heart attack. 'Never again.' He promised himself.
"What's on your mind?" His mother asked. Crosby shrugged, "I was just thinkin... You know I have to leave in a few days right?"
She nodded, "how long will you be gone?"
"Two weeks."
"Well that's not so bad Cros."
"I know but I worry about you."
"I'll be fine. Nurse Milly from the hospital will be here to take care of me anyhow."
"I know ma... But I wanna be the one to..."
"You take care of me just fine all of the time." His mother said, cutting him off, "When did you get to be such a worry wart?"
Crosby smiled sheepishly and shrugged. His mother laughed softly and gave his arm a light squeeze, "my sweet boy."

Jake walked slowly through the Lucy Grey with his father and brother. For once in his life he was speechless. The vessel was overwhelming in size and beauty. There were wooden floors that shined with a glossy finish, beautifully painted portraits lined the corridors, the walls smelled of fresh paint, unused crystal glistened on the tables in the ballroom, and the state rooms looked to Jake more like apartments. Jake remained impressed almost the whole time. That was until they reached the lower classes section of the boat. The walls were still freshly painted and shining but they didn't carry the same beautiful canvases that were on the upper class walls. While the dining halls, state rooms, and deck were still impressive they didn't have the same glamour as first class. Jake was even more disappointed when he reached the crew quarters where he would be sleeping. His room was smaller than the one he had at home and it contained only a bed and a chestnut colored set of drawers. Jake was surprised to see that the room even had a window. 'This is going to be fun.' He thought bitterly.

Sparrow was sitting on a floral print sofa in the parlor trying to decide what dessert would be best for her wedding. Just when she gave up and settled for chocolate fountains; and began to nurse a great desire for a glass of wine before her father could come down and stop her Tristan walked in with his signature straight faced stare. "Hello darling." She said unenthusiasticaly. Tristan bent down and placed a kiss on her forehead, "hello dear."
"What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see my fiancé. Is that a crime?"
"More like checking up on me."
"I admit I wanted to see how the wedding plans are coming but I was more interesting in spending time with the most beautiful girl in Ireland." Sparrow gave him a weak smile, "how sweet." Tristan sat down on the sofa next to Sparrow and grabbed a handful of crackers off of a tray that rested on a stand close to them. "So how are the wedding plans then?" He asked.
"Alright I suppose."
"You should really be more excited. Most girls dream about their weddings their whole lives."
"Well I'm not most girls."
"I know that darling. If you were I wouldn't be so eager to make you my wife." Sparrow smiled, a genuine smile. "That was rather sweet Tristan." Tristan's cheeks burned deeper red than Sparrow's hair. "You're welcome then..." He muttered.
Sparrow stood up and dropped the papers that had been in her lap onto the sofa. "I've got to go to the studio and practice." She said.
"Can I come with you?" Tristan asked.
"Why?"
"You know I love to watch you dance."
"Maybe later. It's hard for me to focus with you watching me." the look of disappointment on Tristan's face did not go unnoticed by Sparrow. Already she was beginning to feel guilty for denying his request. "Later." She said with a smile, "I promise."
"I suppose I can wait." Tristan stood up and allowed Sparrow to give him a soft kiss on the cheek. She flashed him a wide toothy grin and then quickly strode from the room.

Grey helped her sister escape from her corset so she could change into her leotard. "Tristan is downstairs." Sparrow announced.
"What's he doing here?" Grey asked.
"He came to just to bother me I'm sure."
Grey rolled her eyes, "you should really be nice to him. He's a good man with a lot of money you should be happy he wants to marry you."
"I don't care about his money." Sparrow snapped, "there are more important things."
"Like what?"
"Like laughter or intimacy..."
Grey snorted, "I'd much prefer security."
"If only you were in my position... then you'd understand."
Grey had a number of angry retorts but decided it was best to hold her tongue. In reality she desperately wished she was the one preparing to be married. It wasn't fair, why did Sparrow get all the luck. Especially when Grey was the one who craved a husband. Sparrow sighed, "I'll still think 21 is much too young to get married."
"Nonsense." Grey replied, "Momma had already married Daddy and had you before she was 21."
"Maybe I don't want to make the same mistakes she did?"
Grey placed a hand on her hip and shook her head, "You're talking like a lunatic. I think you better just hurry up and get down to the studio and dance. Maybe you'll get your head on straight again." Grey sensed there was more that her sister wanted to say but the two merely looked at each other in silence. After a while Sparrow slipped into her leotard and left the room. 'Silly girl.' Grey thought to herself. She may have been the oldest 18 year old her sister had ever met but her Sparrow certainly seemed to be the youngest most naïve 21 year old Grey knew.

When the Harris men returned home after a long day of touring the Lucy Grey Jake was the first to spot Cara sitting down on th porch swing gently swinging back and forth. "What's she doing here?" Josh asked, voicing Jake's thoughts.
"I have no idea..." Jake replied. He was the last to climb out of the truck and the slowest to walk up the dirt path to the house. Phil and Josh greeted Cara briefly and stepped into the house. "I thought I told you to stay away." Jake said angrily. Cara stood up and glared at Jake with tears in her eyes, "I needed to talk to you Jacob."
"I don't want to hear anything you have to say!"
"Jake it's your baby!" Cara said in a deadly whisper.
"No it isn't Cara!"
"I love you jacob. I would never sleep with anyone else."
"You don't even know what love is." Jake said venomously before going inside and slamming the door in her face.
"What was that about?" Josh asked as Jake sat down in the old rocking chair. "Don't worry about it." Jake mumbled. The last thing he needed was his brother breathing down his neck about his supposed child.

"Let me get this straight?" Grey said loudly, "we're taking a boat to the U.S just so we can take a boat to Russia? Why don't we just go straight to Russia?" Grey's father chuckled and pushed a stray strand of red hair out of her face. "Because its your sisters engagement present I keep telling you this. Cheer up sweetie, they say this is the grandest boat to be built since the Titanic."
"And we all know how well that ended!"
Her father's smile slowly fell off of his face. "Stop your pouting." He said firmly, "you need to start acting more like a lady. You could learn a thing or two from your sister." Grey glared at her father for a few seconds and then stormed out of her room. "Yes that's the answer... Be more like perfect Sparrow." She mumbled angrily under her breath.

It was another two weeks Before the Moore Family along with Tristan Doherty arrived in the U.S. which meant they had just enough time to get to the ship before it's early morning departure. Sparrow's eyes widened as their car approached the massive steaming vessel. It was far larger than she had imagined. She glanced over at her little sister who looked marginally less excited. "Come on Grey!" Sparrow said excitedly, "this is going to be like a real adventure." Grey rolled her eyes and looked at her car door expectantly; and waited for someone to come and let her out. When someone finally did she climbed out of the car and wrinkled her nose in disgust at the smell of smoke coming from the boat. Sparrow laughed and stood at her side. She wasn't going to give up on cheering her sister up. "I quite like the smell of smoke actually." She said. Grey rolled her eyes once more, "well how convenient for you. "Sparrow's smile faltered slightly but she quickly regained her composure. She pointed up at the red letters printed on the side of the ship. "Look Grey! The boat is called the Lucy Grey! Its got your name in it! It's like you were destined to be on board."

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